AU2009203212A1 - An improved locking mechanism for kibble containers - Google Patents

Description

14546AU ORIGINAL Complete Specification Applicant: CIMC Rolling Stock Australia Pty Ltd Title: An improved locking mechanism for kibble containers Address for Service: LESICAR PERRIN, 49 Wright Street, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing It known to me/us: z An improved locking mechanism for kibble containers The present invention relates to a locking mechanism and, in particular, to an improved locking mechanism for kibble containers and the like. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 5 Rail wagons, road trailers and other like vehicles are used to transport mined material, such as metalliferous ores and mineral sands for example, from one location to another. Such material is sometimes carried inside large containers known as kibbles which are supported above the vehicle chassis, the kibbles being demountable from the chassis once a destination is reached. 10 Typical chassis' include an underframe or centre-sill which is a rigid elongated structure comprising a relatively heavy pair of parallel steel beams connected by spaced apart cross braces. The beams are typically parallel steel I-beams which extend from front to rear of the chassis and are about one foot in height, 1/4 inch thick and are relatively heavy structures. 15 There currently exist vehicles such as rail wagons and road trailers which are specifically constructed to carry kibble containers. The present inventor is the owner of a co-pending patent application relating to a demountable kibble frame that is adapted to be mounted to a conventional shipping container carrier. The contents of this co-pending patent application are incorporated by reference herein, and that 20 demountable frame is described herein as a preferred embodiment. The present invention is not however intended to be limited to use of the demountable frame, as the locking mechanism could equally well be applied to conventional vehicle chassis' made for carrying kibble containers. In fact, the present invention is not intended to be limited to locking of kibble containers only, but any 25 container having lugs adapted to be received inside receiving trays or nesting channels on a vehicle chassis. Kibble frames typically include a plurality of transversely extending and spaced apart receiving trays or nesting channels adapted to receive correspondingly shaped lugs suspended beneath the kibble container. Typically, each kibble container 30 includes two spaced apart and transversely extending lugs, adapted to be received 3 inside two correspondingly spaced apart and transversely extending channels. A standard rail wagon chassis will typically include ten trays along its length to thereby accommodate five kibble containers. Each kibble lug includes an aperture extending therethrough in the direction of 5 the longitudinal axis of the vehicle chassis. This aperture becomes coaxially aligned with a corresponding aperture in the receiving tray when the kibble container is lowered onto the chassis. The kibble container is then lockable to the chassis by inserting a pin through each of the coaxially aligned apertures. A locking mechanism is used to control movement of the locking pins and is typically located in between 10 nesting channel pairs. Prior art mechanisms typically include two pins which are moveable in and out of the receiving trays by way of a handle extending outwardly from the chassis adapted to be manually pushed towards the chassis or pulled away from the chassis to initiate the locking mechanism. More specifically, the locking mechanism typically includes a semicircular 15 turntable mounted centrally above the chassis between each nesting channel pair. One pin for locking one lug of a kibble container is rotatably connected to a first corner of the turntable, and the other pin which extends in the opposite longitudinal direction is rotatably connected to the opposed second corner of the turntable for locking the second lug of the kibble container simultaneously. Such movement occurs when the 20 turntable is rotated by a predetermined angle. The handle is operatively connected to the turntable such that pushing or pulling of the handle in a transverse direction relative to the chassis causes it to rotate clockwise or anticlockwise respectively. Although this locking mechanism is effective in locking the kibble containers to the chassis, it has a major drawback. Because kibble containers are often used to 25 transport mined ore and sands, particulate matter often falls over the sides of the kibbles and into the locking mechanisms. Such particulate matter can often get inside the turntable and pin connections, making it extremely difficult for the handle to be pushed and pulled when required. Also, over time, when such joints begin to wear or rust, this problem is exacerbated and it may become almost impossible for the handle 30 to be moved. The locking mechanism then typically needs to be replaced.

4 It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome at least some of the aforementioned problems or to provide the public with a useful alternative. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved locking mechanism for a kibble container including a rotatable lever arn for initiating 5 movement of locking pins. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore in one form of the invention there is proposed a locking mechanism for locking a container having at least one suspended vertical surface with a first aperture which extends along a first horizontal axis, to a frame having an upstanding 10 vertical surface with a second aperture adapted to be coaxially aligned with the first aperture, said locking mechanism including: a lever arm rotatable in the same horizontal plane as said horizontal axis, and rotatable about a vertical axis; and a locking pin rotatably associated with said said lever arm, said locking pin moveable 15 along said first horizontal axis only, said lever arm adapted to impart movement to said locking pin when rotated between a first position in which said locking pin does not extend through said coaxially aligned apertures, and a second position in which said locking pin extends through said coaxially aligned apertures. Preferably said lever arm includes a first end on one side of the vertical axis 20 adapted to be rotated by a user, and a second end on an opposed side of the vertical axis. In preference said locking pin is rotatably associated with said lever arm second end. Preferably said container further includes a second vertical surface spaced 25 apart from the first vertical surface and having an aperture extending along a second horizontal axis. In preference said frame further includes a second upright surface spaced apart correspondingly from the first upright surface, said second upright surface having an aperture adapted to be coaxially aligned with the aperture of second container surface.

Preferably said locking mechanism includes a second locking pin rotatably associated with said lever ann first end, said second locking moveable along said second horizontal axis only, said lever arm adapted to impart movement to said first and second locking pins in opposite directions when rotated, said lever arm being 5 rotatable between a first position in which the first and second locking pins do not extend through the respective coaxially aligned apertures, and a second position in which the first and second locking pins extend through the respective coaxially aligned apertures. Preferably said locking mechanism is disposed between the first and second 10 upright surfaces of the frame. In a further form of the invention there is proposed a locking mechanism for locking a container to a vehicle frame having a longitudinal axis, said container including two spaced apart and transversely extending lugs suspended from beneath the container, and said frame including correspondingly spaced apart and transversely 15 extending receiving trays for receiving the lugs, each lug and tray having apertures which become coaxially aligned when the lugs are received inside said trays, said locking mechanism comprising: a lever an associated with said frame and positioned between said receiving trays, said lever arm being rotatable in a horizontal plane and including a vertical axis of 20 rotation, said lever arm further including a first end on one side of the axis of rotation which extends outwardly from said frame for handling by a user, and a second end which extends beyond the axis of rotation; a first locking pin rotatably associated with said first end of the lever arm adjacent to the axis of rotation, and a second locking pin rotatably associated with said second 25 end of the lever arm adjacent to the axis of rotation, said lever amn adapted to impart movement to said locking pins in opposite directions and along axes corresponding with those of said coaxially aligned apertures, said lever arm being rotatable between a first unlocked position in which said first and second locking pins are disposed inwards of each of said coaxially aligned apertures, and a second locked position in 30 which the first and second locking pins extend through the coaxially aligned apertures thereby locking the lugs to the respective trays.

In preference said first and second locking pins are each rotatably associated with the lever arm through a locking pin shaft pivotally connected at one end to the lever arm and at the other end to the corresponding locking pin. Preferably said locking pins are limited to said axes corresponding with those 5 of said coaxially aligned apertures by longitudinally extending guides mounted to the aperture side of each receiving tray. In preference said vehicle chassis includes an elongated rectangular body including two longitudinal side beams, and a plurality of cross members extending therebetween. 10 In preference said receiving trays are located above the cross members. In preference said vehicle chassis includes ten transversely extending receiving trays adapted to accommodate five kibble containers. In a yet further form of the invention there is proposed a rail wagon vehicle chassis including at least one locking mechanism in accordance with any one of the 15 above described locking mechanisms. In a still further form of the invention there is proposed a road trailer vehicle chassis including at least one locking mechanism in accordance with any one of claims described locking mechanisms. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 20 The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several implementations of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 illustrates a top perspective view of a kibble frame including kibble 25 container locking mechanisms in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates a bottom side perspective view of the kibble frame of Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates an end view of the kibble frame of Figure 1; Figure 4 illustrates a top view of the kibble frame of Figure 1; Figure 5 illustrates a side view of the kibble frame of Figure 1; Figure 6 illustrates a side view of a rail wagon carrying a plurality of kibble 5 containers locked down to the wagon chassis using the locking mechanism of the present invention; Figure 7 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of a kibble container locking mechanism in accordance with the present invention, wherein locking pins associated therewith are shown in a locked position; 10 Figure 8a illustrates a top view of the kibble container locking mechanism of Figure 7, wherein locking pins associated therewith are shown in an unlocked position; Figure 8b illustrates a top view of the kibble container locking mechanism of Figure 7, wherein locking pins associated therewith are shown in a 15 locked position; Figure 9a illustrates a perspective view of a locking device for maintaining the lever arm and hence the locking pins in a locked position; and Figure 9b illustrates a perspective view of the locking device of Figure 9a being opened to allow for the lever arm and hence the locking pins to be 20 moved to an unlocked position. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Although the description includes exemplary embodiments, other embodiments are possible, and changes may be made to the embodiments described 25 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts.

5 Figures 1-5 show a plurality of locking mechanisms 10 of the present invention mounted along a demountable kibble frame 12, for locking kibble containers 14 to the frame 12. There are five locking mechanisms 10 shown, which corresponds with the number of kibble containers 14 which may be locked to the 5 frame 12. The demountable frame 12 includes a rectangular flat bed structure comprising a central hollow structural element 16 of flat rectangular cross section, two outer longitudinal beams 18 and 20, being preferably C-section beams disposed on either side of the central element 16, and ten transversely extending cross or brace members 10 22 connecting the two outer beams 18 and 20 and defining the ends of the frame 12. The frame 12 further includes a central mounting plate 24 and two end mounting plates 26 and 28, each mounting plate extending transversely outwardly from the longitudinal axis beyond the outer beams 18 and 20. Each mounting plate 24, 26 and 28 includes strategically located apertures 30. 15 The position of each aperture 30 is made to correspond with the position of twist lock assemblies (not shown) on a conventional vehicle chassis 32 which would otherwise have been used to engage corner box forms of a shipping container (not shown). As mentioned, this demountable kibble frame 12 is the subject matter of a co-pending application and shall therefore not be described in any more detail. 20 A rail wagon 33 including a chassis 32, and a demountable kibble frame 12 mounted there above, is shown in Figure 6. Turning now to the way in which the kibble containers 14 are mounted, located directly above each of the brace member 22 of the frame 12 are receiving trays or nesting channels 34. Each tray 34 is adapted to receive one correspondingly 25 shaped lug (not shown) of a kibble container 14. Each kibble container 14 is typically in the form of a substantially rectangular drum having two transversely extending and spaced apart lugs suspended therefrom, adapted for nesting within an adjacent pair of receiving trays 34. As mentioned above, the frame 12 includes ten transversely extending brace 30 members 22, and there are ten receiving trays 34 mounted thereabove, allowing for 9 the carrying of five kibble containers 14. In a preferred embodiment, the receiving trays 34 are welded to the frame 12. In the embodiment shown, the locking mechanism 10 of the present invention forms part of the demountable frame 12 and is located between each adjacent pair of 5 receiving trays 34. When a kibble container 14 is lowered onto the frame 12 so that its two suspended lugs (not shown) are received in an adjacent pair of trays 34, an aperture 35 extending longitudinally through the receiving tray 34 becomes coaxially aligned with an aperture (not shown) extending through the kibble container lug (not shown). 10 The kibble container lugs are not shown for the purposes of brevity. It is to be understood that each lug could be in any suitable form, for example, it could be a solid block adapted to fit snugly inside the tray 34, or it could simply include two downwardly extending plates which are spaced apart a distance corresponding with the width of each receiving tray 34. The important aspect is that the lug must include a 15 vertical surface having an aperture which coaxially aligns with the tray aperture 35. The locking mechanism 10 is shown in an enlarged view in Figure 7, where its position relative to the two receiving trays 34 of each kibble container 14 is clear. The locking mechanism 10 is made up of an elongate turn plate 36 rotatable about a vertical pivot pin 38, and a lever arm 40 connected thereto extending in substantially 20 the same direction. The lever arm 40 extends to a position outside of the frame 12 so that it can be rotated manually from a locked to an unlocked position as will be described below. In an alternate embodiment, the lever arm 40 and the turn plate 36 are integrally formed. The turn plate 36 extends a short distance further than the pivot pin 38 to 25 accommodate one end of a first locking pin shaft 42 which is rotatably mounted to the turn plate 36 using pivot pin 43, and having rotatably mounted to its free end a first locking pin 44 using a further pivot pin 45. On the opposite side of the turn plate pivot pin 38, there is rotatably mounted a second locking pin shaft 46 using pivot pin 47, the shaft 46 extending in the opposite direction to the first locking pin shaft 42, and 30 having rotatably mounted at its free end a second locking pin 48 using pivot pin 49. There are guide cylinders 50 and 52 mounted to the side of each tray, through which it) respective first and second locking pins 44 and 48 extend. The skilled addressee would realise that the guide cylinders prevent the locking pins from all movement bar linear movement in the direction of the frame longitudinal axis. The locking mechanism 10 works by moving the first and second locking pins 5 44 and 38 from a first unlocked position, in which the locking pin ends are located inside their respective guide cylinders 50 and 52, and a second locked position, in which the locking pin ends are moved longitudinally and oppositely outwardly from the turn plate 36 to thereby engage the lugs (not shown) of the kibble 14 and lock the kibble trays in place. 10 The skilled addressee would realise that this movement is achieved by rotating the lever arm 40 from the position shown in Figure 8a, adjacent the right hand tray, clockwise to the position shown in Figure 8b, adjacent the left hand tray. In doing so, the turn plate 36 is also rotated clockwise relative to the pivot pin 38, moving the locking pin shafts 42 and 46 outwardly, and hence moving the locking pins 44 and 48 15 into their locked positions inside the trays 34. When rotating the lever arm 40 and hence turn plate 36 about the pivot pin 38 in an anticlockwise motion, the locking pins 44 and 48 are pulled out of the trays 34 and the kibble 14 can then be demounted. It is to be understood that the configuration of the lever anm 40 could equally well be reversed, whereby anticlockwise rotation causes locking and clockwise 20 rotation causes unlocking. The lever arm 40 is lockable in the locked position shown in Figure 8b, using a locking device 54 which is shown in Figures 9a-9b. The locking device 54 includes a receiving member 56 adapted to engage the lever arm 40 through a receiving channel 58 which extends horizontally and then terminates downwardly. The lever 25 arm 40 is configured to be biased in the downward direction and so when it is moved towards the receiving member and into the channel 58, it will be urged inside the downward portion of the channel 58 and thereby prevented from horizontal movement. If the lever arm 40 happens to be accidentally lifted, say during travel along a bumpy road or rail track, the mechanism includes a latch 60 in the path of the 30 channel 58 for preventing the lever arm from exiting the receiving member 56.

11 The latch 60 is rotatably mounted to the receiving member 56 at a position just above the horizontal portion of the channel 58. The latch 60 is rotatable between the locked position shown in Figure 9a, preventing movement of the lever arm 40 outside of the locking device 54, and the unlocked position shown in Figure 9b, allowing for 5 the lever arm 40 to be rotated back out along the channel 58 and free from the locking device. A stub 62 extending outwardly and perpendicularly from the receiving member 56 is used as an abutment surface to prevent the latch 60 from anticlockwise rotation beyond its locked position. It is to be understood that any other suitable lever arm locking device could be 10 used, and that the present invention is not intended to be limited to the rotatable rotatable latch mechanism described and illustrated in Figures 9a-9b. Having thus described the features of the locking mechanism 10 of the present invention, its advantages over existing kibble container locking mechanisms and its operation are readily apparent. The locking mechanism 10 enables involves a lever 15 arm 40 that is rotatable from left to right and vice versa from the outside of the vehicle chassis, as opposed to use of a push-pull handle associated with conventional locking mechanisms of this type. The skilled addressee would realise that much less force is required to rotate the lever arm 40 of the present invention to initiate the locking sequence. Such a locking mechanism becomes particularly advantageous should the 20 locking pins, turn plate, or any of the joints associated with the locking mechanism become clogged with dust and other particulate matter from the kibbles, or worn over time. Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown 25 and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. 30 In any claims that follow and in the summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the 1I word "comprising" is used in the sense of "including", i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Claims (16)

1.3 CLAIMS 1. A locking mechanism for locking a container having at least one suspended vertical surface with a first aperture which extends along a first horizontal axis, to a frame having an upstanding vertical surface with a second aperture 5 adapted to be coaxially aligned with the first aperture, said locking mechanism including: a lever arm rotatable in the same horizontal plane as said horizontal axis, and rotatable about a vertical axis; and a locking pin rotatably associated with said said lever arm, said locking pin 10 moveable along said first horizontal axis only, said lever arm adapted to impart movement to said locking pin when rotated between a first position in which said locking pin does not extend through said coaxially aligned apertures, and a second position in which said locking pin extends through said coaxially aligned apertures. 15

2, A locking mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said lever arm includes a first end on one side of the vertical axis adapted to be rotated by a user, and a second end on an opposed side of the vertical axis,

3. A locking mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said locking pin is rotatably associated with said lever arm second end. 20

4. A locking mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said container further includes a second vertical surface spaced apart from the first vertical surface and having an aperture extending along a second horizontal axis.

5. A locking mechanism according to claim 4 wherein said frame further includes a second upright surface spaced apart correspondingly from the first 25 upright surface, said second upright surface having an aperture adapted to be coaxially aligned with the aperture of second container surface.

6. A locking mechanism according to claim 5 wherein said locking mechanism includes a second locking pin rotatably associated with said lever arm first end, said second locking moveable along said second horizontal axis only, said 30 lever arm adapted to impart movement to said first and second locking pins in 14 opposite directions when rotated, said lever arm being rotatable between a first position in which the first and second locking pins do not extend through the respective coaxially aligned apertures, and a second position in which the first and second locking pins extend through the respective coaxially aligned 5 apertures.

7. A locking mechanism according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein said locking mechanism is disposed between the first and second upright surfaces of the frame.

8. A locking mechanism for locking a container to a vehicle frame having a 10 longitudinal axis, said container including two spaced apart and transversely extending lugs suspended from beneath the container, and said frame including correspondingly spaced apart and transversely extending receiving trays for receiving the lugs, each lug and tray having apertures which become coaxially aligned when the lugs are received inside said trays, said locking 15 mechanism comprising: a lever arm associated with said frame and positioned between said receiving trays, said lever arm being rotatable in a horizontal plane and including a vertical axis of rotation, said lever arm further including a first end on one side of the axis of rotation which extends outwardly from said frame for handling 20 by a user, and a second end which extends beyond the axis of rotation; a first locking pin rotatably associated with said first end of the lever arm adjacent to the axis of rotation, and a second locking pin rotatably associated with said second end of the lever arm adjacent to the axis of rotation, said lever arm adapted to impart movement to said locking pins in opposite 25 directions and along axes corresponding with those of said coaxially aligned apertures, said lever arm being rotatable between a first unlocked position in which said first and second locking pins are disposed inwards of each of said coaxially aligned apertures, and a second locked position in which the first and second locking pins extend through the coaxially aligned apertures thereby 30 locking the lugs to the respective trays.

9. A locking mechanism according to claim 8 wherein said first and second locking pins are each rotatably associated with the lever arm through a locking 15 pin shaft pivotally connected at one end to the lever arm and at the other end to the corresponding locking pin.

10. A locking mechanism according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein said locking pins are limited to said axes corresponding with those of said coaxially aligned 5 apertures by longitudinally extending guides mounted to the aperture side of each receiving tray.

11. A locking mechanism according to any one of claims 8-10 wherein said vehicle chassis includes an elongated rectangular body including two longitudinal side beams, and a plurality of cross members extending 10 therebetween.

12. A locking mechanism according to claim 11 wherein said receiving trays are located above the cross members.

13. A locking mechanism according to any one of claims 8-12 wherein said vehicle chassis includes ten transversely extending receiving trays adapted to 15 accommodate five kibble containers.

14. A rail wagon vehicle chassis including at least one locking mechanism in accordance with any one of the above claims.

15. A road trailer vehicle chassis including at least one locking mechanism in accordance with any one of claims 1-13. 20

16. A locking mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.